Latch mechanism

Abstract

A compact, lightweight latch ( 38 ) especially adapted for use with an emergency deployment oxygen mask container ( 20 ) is provided which is made up of a minimum of parts and which can be delatched in multiple ways. The latch ( 38 ) includes a latch assembly ( 40 ) designed to be mounted in the oxygen mask container box ( 22 ) and a cooperating latch pin ( 44 ) secured to a cover ( 24 ). The assembly ( 40 ) has a primary latch body ( 46 ) supporting a diaphragm ( 48 ), latch member ( 50 ) and shiftable piston ( 52 ); the latch member ( 50 ) includes a plurality of laterally displaceable, hook-shaped locking legs ( 86 ) configured to interfit with latch pin ( 44 ). The piston ( 52 ) is shiftable in opposite axial directions within latch member ( 52 ), and cooperating surfaces on the member ( 50 ) and piston ( 52 ) serve to positively displace the latching legs ( 86 ) in response to piston movement. During pneumatic operation, the piston ( 52 ) is shifted within latch member ( 50 ) under the influence of diaphragm ( 48 ). The latching member ( 50 ), piston ( 52 ) and latch pin ( 44 ) are preferably in substantial axial alignment, and a passageway ( 116 ) in the latch pin ( 44 ) allows use of push or pull rods ( 126, 128 ) for manual delatching.

We claim:  
     
       1. A latch mechanism for releasably latching two components together, said latch mechanism comprising: 
       a latch assembly adapted for mounting on one of said components and including a latch member having at least one latch element displaceable between a latching position and a release position, and a piston shiftable in opposite directions relative to said latch member; and  
       a latch pin adapted for mounting on the other of said components and engaged with said latch element for releasably latching said two components together,  
       said piston including structure oriented to positively displace said latch element from said latching position to said release position during shifting of said piston in either of said directions, to cause said latch element to disengage said latch pin and delatch said two components.  
     
     
       2. The latch mechanism of  claim 1 , said piston being substantially coaxial with and shiftable relative to said latch member. 
     
     
       3. The latch mechanism of  claim 1 , said latch member including a plurality of latch elements, each of said elements comprising an elongated leg having a generally hook-shaped end engageable with said latch pin. 
     
     
       4. The latch mechanism of  claim 3 , said piston including a plurality of elongated slots with each leg received within a corresponding slot. 
     
     
       5. The latch mechanism of  claim 1 , said piston having a foot adjacent one end thereof for directly engaging said other component upon shifting of the piston in one of said directions. 
     
     
       6. The latch mechanism of  claim 5 , said foot including a surface remote from said other component engageable with said latching element upon shifting of said piston in the other of said directions. 
     
     
       7. The latch mechanism of  claim 1 , said latch assembly including a latch body attachable to said one component and supporting said latch member and piston. 
     
     
       8. The latch mechanism of  claim 7 , said latch body including a pneumatically moveable diaphragm adjacent said piston, and an air passageway communicating with said diaphragm for delivery of pressurized air against the diaphragm in order to thereby move the diaphragm and shift said piston. 
     
     
       9. The latch mechanism of  claim 1 , said latch pin and piston being substantially coaxial, said latch pin being of annular configuration and presenting a release pin opening therethrough permitting a release pin to be inserted through the latch pin for engagement with said piston. 
     
     
       10. The latch mechanism of  claim 9 , including means for releasably holding said release pin in said latch piston. 
     
     
       11. A latch mechanism for releasably latching two components together, said latch mechanism comprising: 
       a latch assembly adapted for mounting on one of said components and including an elongated, generally tubular latch member supporting at least one elongated latch leg laterally displaceable between a latching position and a release position, and an elongated piston presenting a recess therein, said piston at least partially telescoped within said latch member and selectively shiftable in opposite axial directions relative to said latch member and said latch leg; and  
       an elongated latch pin adapted for mounting on the other of said components and received within said piston recess and engaged with said latch leg for releasably latching said two components together,  
       said latch member, piston and latch pin being substantially coaxially aligned.  
     
     
       12. The latch mechanism of  claim 11 , said latch member including a plurality of latch legs, each of said legs comprising an elongated leg having a generally hook-shaped end engageable with said latch pin. 
     
     
       13. The latch mechanism of  claim 12 , said piston including a plurality of elongated slots with each leg received within a corresponding slot. 
     
     
       14. The latch mechanism of  claim 11 , said piston having a foot adjacent one end thereof for directly engaging said other component upon shifting of the piston in one of said directions. 
     
     
       15. The latch mechanism of  claim 14 , said foot including a surface remote from said other component engageable with said latching leg upon shifting of said piston in the other of said directions. 
     
     
       16. The latch mechanism of  claim 11 , said latch assembly including a latch body attachable to said one component and supporting said latch member and piston. 
     
     
       17. The latch mechanism of  claim 16 , said latch body including a pneumatically moveable diaphragm adjacent said piston, and an air passageway communicating with said diaphragm for delivery of pressurized air against the diaphragm in order to thereby move the diaphragm and shift said piston. 
     
     
       18. The latch mechanism of  claim 11 , said latch pin and piston being substantially coaxial, said latch pin being of annular configuration and presenting a release pin opening therethrough permitting a release pin to be inserted through the latch pin for engagement with said piston. 
     
     
       19. The latch mechanism of  claim 18 , including means for releasably holding said release pin in said latch pin. 
     
     
       20. A latch mechanism for releasably latching two components together, said latch mechanism comprising: 
       a latch assembly adapted for mounting on one of said components and including an elongated, generally tubular latch member having a plurality of elongated latch legs each having a generally hook-shaped end and being laterally displaceable between a latching position and a release position, and an elongated piston including a plurality of elongated slots, said piston at least partially telescoped within said latch member and selectively shiftable in opposite axial directions relative to said latch member, each of said hook-shaped ends received within a corresponding piston slot; and  
       an elongated latch pin adapted for mounting on the other of said components and engaged with said latch leg for releasably latching said two components together,  
       said latch member, piston and latch pin being substantially coaxially aligned.  
     
     
       21. A latch mechanism for releasably latching two components together, said latch mechanism comprising: 
       a latch assembly adapted for mounting on one of said components and including an elongated latch member having at least one elongated latch leg laterally displaceable between a latching position and a release position, and an elongated piston shiftable in opposite axial directions relative to said latch member; and  
       an elongated latch pin adapted for mounting on the other of said components and engaged with said latch leg for releasably latching said two components together,  
       said latch member, piston and latch pin being substantially coaxially aligned,  
       said piston having a foot adjacent one end thereof for directly engaging said other component upon shifting of the piston in one of said directions.  
     
     
       22. A latch mechanism for releasably latching two components together, said latch mechanism comprising: 
       a latch assembly adapted for mounting on one of said components and including an elongated latch member having at least one elongated latch leg laterally displaceable between a latching position and a release position, and an elongated piston shiftable in opposite axial directions relative to said latch member; and  
       an elongated latch pin adapted for mounting on the other of said components and engaged with said latch leg for releasably latching said two components together,  
       said latch member, piston and latch pin being substantially coaxially aligned,  
       said latch pin being of annular configuration and presenting a release pin opening therethrough permitting a release pin to be inserted through the latch pin for engagement with said piston.  
     
     
       23. A latch mechanism for releasably latching two components together, said latch mechanism comprising: 
       a latch assembly adapted for mounting on one of said components and including an elongated latch member having at least one elongated latch leg laterally displaceable between a latching position and a release position, and an elongated piston presenting a recess therein and shiftable in opposite axial directions relative to said latch member; and  
       an elongated latch pin adapted for mounting on the other of said components and received within said piston recess and engaged with said latch leg for releasably latching said two components together, said piston having a foot adjacent one end thereof for directly engaging said other component upon shifting of the piston in one of said directions,  
       said latch member, piston and latch pin being substantially coaxially aligned.  
     
     
       24. A latch mechanism for releasably latching two components together, said latch mechanism comprising: 
       a latch assembly adapted for mounting on one of said components and including a latch body attachable to said one component, an elongated latch member having at least one elongated latch leg laterally displaceable between a latching position and a release position, and an elongated piston presenting a recess therein and shiftable in opposite axial directions relative to said latch member,  
       said latch body supporting said latch member and piston and including a pneumatically movable diaphragm adjacent said piston, and an air passageway communicating with said diaphragm for delivery of pressurized air against the diaphragm in order to thereby move the diaphragm and shift said piston; and  
       an elongated latch pin adapted for mounting on the other of said components and received within said piston recess and engaged with said latch leg for releasably latching said two components together,  
       said latch member, piston and latch pin being substantially coaxially aligned.  
     
     
       25. A latch mechanism for releasably latching two components together, said latch mechanism comprising: 
       a latch assembly adapted for mounting on one of said components and including an elongated latch member supporting at least one elongated latch leg laterally displaceable between a latching position and a release position, and an elongated piston presenting a recess therein and shiftable in opposite axial directions relative to said latch member and said latch leg; and  
       an elongated latch pin adapted for mounting on the other of said components and received within said piston recess and engaged with said latch leg for releasably latching said two components together,  
       said latch member, piston and latch pin being substantially coaxially aligned,  
       said latch pin being of annular configuration and presenting a release pin opening therethrough permitting a release pin to be inserted through the latch pin for engagement with said piston.